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Breast lumpectomy and node removal op

Sandra123
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hi to anyone due to have this op

i had mine yesterday. Got there for 7:30 am. Changed into gown, dressing gown nd slippers. Had bp nd temp done met consultant, anaesthetist. Had breast marked up then radioactive injection (to help them find nodes during op- negates the need for the blue dye). 

Then the wait to go. There were 4 of us for the same op so we pulled up chairs nd sat and chatted. 

I went for op at 1:30. Woke up in resus then taken back to room (no bed in room just a chair)5:00pm. Bp and temp. Cup of tea nd toast. Approx hr later told could go home. 

I have no pain ( I am taking 2 paracetamol 4hrly). I slept well last night. I can move arm freely etc and had no problems getting dressed or moving around. 

I am waiting now for the district nurse coming to check me over. At the moment there is no bruising and very little swelling. 

All the staff were brilliant I can not fault them. 

If you too are to have this op I can honestly say it was no where near as bad as I had built it up in my mind. As always it is the waiting that is the worst. 

Good luck to those due to have this and try not to worry   

Take. Care

Sandra x

  • Offline in reply to rileyroo
    Sorry i usually put frozen berries, banana, apple, yoghurt oats and all the rest. Keeps me going.
  • Offline in reply to Jbains
    One down fourteen to go. Met a couple of humans tonight and got some of my appointments switched to mornings. Result!!
  • Offline in reply to rileyroo

    That's absolutely brilliant!! At least you got the first òne over with - how did it go? 

  • Offline in reply to Jbains

    OK I think. They were running late, there's a surprise. Put some aloe vera gel on as soon as I got to the changing room afterwards. The two today were brilliant, if I'd have met these when I went for the ct scan I'm sure I wouldn't have been as anxious. 

  • Offline in reply to rileyroo

    Glad to hear it. We're all in this together and we all rock! Seems to be our themed expression now. Just take it easy as you may feel ok & as soon as you do things more and more it'll get tiring. The trek up to hospital every day is alot. I got anxious every time as my skin reacted from day one. But the outcome is worth it. Keep on with the moisturizing and dont scrub ur skin too hard - pat it dry. Take it easy.x

  • Offline in reply to Jbains

    My skin is pretty rubbish, always getting rashes, reacts to everything and not in a good way a lot of the time. Have managed to get some of the appointments moved as well so quite happy with that and staying with the same radiotherapists rather than chopping and changing. Will check mine in a few minutes. Did you get any issues with the sking on your back or was it all your breast if you don't mind me asking?

  • Offline in reply to rileyroo

    Of course I don't mind. It was breast and part of armpit only. My skin on my back was fine. Let's hope you don't react. Mine went pink straight away but was ok throughout. It was sore and felt tender but I just kept concentrating on final outcome. One day at a time.

  • Offline in reply to Jbains

    Kind of trained myself to expect it so if it doesn't it will

    be a nice surprise. Getting little shooting type pains but nothing too dramatic, asked the rt whole I was there and she siad it is quite normal. 

  • Offline in reply to rileyroo
    I don't really remember the first couple of weeks that well apart from soreness and vomiting on day 1. I was so anxious that I think I made myself sick! Normally am a very strong person but so many emotions were there - my mom had secondary BC so I was a little silly as I gave such a strong outward appearance to all around me and hid all those emotions. I was worried about being weak as my son was studying in Geneva and wantec to protect him. Lesson learnt - deal with all your feelings and think of yourself. Mental strength is so important throughout this whole process. So cry if you need to or rant because it's better to talk it out.
  • Offline in reply to Jbains
    Felt as sick as the proverbial all day and said so when I got there. Was OK during the treatment, kind of zoned out I think. I've had more than one melt down during the last six months, one very memorable one in the kitchen at work, I have always had a lot of respect for those who work in medicine, quite a few cousins are or have nurses but I've had my eyes opened in a big way. Respect is now earnt, it's not automatic and it's a two way street. I've cried, shouted and thrown things, scared the living daylights out of one or two people along the way. One of the hospital staff has done an internal report on what's happened to me at various times pre surgery. I ended up having to change consultant because of the issues that were caused by what was basically arrogant presumption on their part. If I'd tried to keep that in I'd have gone even more nuts than I was before. For what it's worth, I've found that if you can find some one you can talk to in an organisation, getting something sorted and done is a heck of a lot easier and quicker. I question everything now; it's not popular but when decisions are being made about me/my body I've taken the the view that when the slashing, burning and poisoning is done, It's me that has to deal with what's left not the medical profession. Ooh, now that was a rant, apologies,

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